Share of land defined as natural habitat in Zambia
Zambia: Share of land defined as natural habitat was 75.9 in 2010. ▼ Falling
Share of land defined as natural habitat in Zambia, 1780–2010
Source: Taylor and Rising, and United Nations (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2010, share of land defined as natural habitat in Zambia stood at 75.9.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of land defined as natural habitat in Zambia peaked at 95.23 in 1780 and was at its lowest, 70.82, in 1960.
That places Zambia 31st out of 168 countries with data for 2010, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 24 years of available data.
Share of land defined as natural habitat in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1780 | 95.23 | — |
| 1790 | 95.12 | -0.1% |
| 1800 | 95 | -0.1% |
| 1810 | 94.89 | -0.1% |
| 1820 | 94.66 | -0.2% |
| 1830 | 94.42 | -0.3% |
| 1840 | 94.15 | -0.3% |
| 1850 | 93.87 | -0.3% |
| 1860 | 93.57 | -0.3% |
| 1870 | 92.98 | -0.6% |
| 1880 | 92.33 | -0.7% |
| 1890 | 91.58 | -0.8% |
| 1900 | 90.75 | -0.9% |
| 1910 | 88.9 | -2.0% |
| 1920 | 86.61 | -2.6% |
| 1930 | 83.77 | -3.3% |
| 1940 | 80.2 | -4.3% |
| 1950 | 75.99 | -5.2% |
| 1960 | 70.82 | -6.8% |
| 1970 | 79.45 | +12.2% |
| 1980 | 79.49 | +0.1% |
| 1990 | 79.03 | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 77.53 | -1.9% |
| 2010 | 75.9 | -2.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 75.9 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 60.64, 1.3× the median. (44 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 75.9 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 52.29, 1.5× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1780s | 95.23 | 95.23 | 95.23 | 1 |
| 1790s | 95.12 | 95.12 | 95.12 | 1 |
| 1800s | 95 | 95 | 95 | 1 |
| 1810s | 94.89 | 94.89 | 94.89 | 1 |
| 1820s | 94.66 | 94.66 | 94.66 | 1 |
| 1830s | 94.42 | 94.42 | 94.42 | 1 |
| 1840s | 94.15 | 94.15 | 94.15 | 1 |
| 1850s | 93.87 | 93.87 | 93.87 | 1 |
| 1860s | 93.57 | 93.57 | 93.57 | 1 |
| 1870s | 92.98 | 92.98 | 92.98 | 1 |
| 1880s | 92.33 | 92.33 | 92.33 | 1 |
| 1890s | 91.58 | 91.58 | 91.58 | 1 |
| 1900s | 90.75 | 90.75 | 90.75 | 1 |
| 1910s | 88.9 | 88.9 | 88.9 | 1 |
| 1920s | 86.61 | 86.61 | 86.61 | 1 |
| 1930s | 83.77 | 83.77 | 83.77 | 1 |
| 1940s | 80.2 | 80.2 | 80.2 | 1 |
| 1950s | 75.99 | 75.99 | 75.99 | 1 |
| 1960s | 70.82 | 70.82 | 70.82 | 1 |
| 1970s | 79.45 | 79.45 | 79.45 | 1 |
| 1980s | 79.49 | 79.49 | 79.49 | 1 |
| 1990s | 79.03 | 79.03 | 79.03 | 1 |
| 2000s | 77.53 | 77.53 | 77.53 | 1 |
| 2010s | 75.9 | 75.9 | 75.9 | 1 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More reference data data for Zambia
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Political opposition, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament and government, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2025)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 40.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of land defined as natural habitat in Zambia?
- Share of land defined as natural habitat in Zambia was 75.9 in 2010, according to Taylor and Rising, and United Nations (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of land defined as natural habitat recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 95.23 in 1780.
- What is the lowest share of land defined as natural habitat recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 70.82 in 1960.
- How does Zambia rank for share of land defined as natural habitat?
- Zambia ranks 31st out of 168 countries with data for 2010.
- Is share of land defined as natural habitat rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Taylor and Rising, and United Nations (2021) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of land defined as natural habitat. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Natural ecosystems include forest, grassland, savanna, and shrublands, and other classes such as peatlands and marshes. It is total land minus land that is used by humans for agriculture – either croplands or pasture – or for infrastructure and urban environments.